Michael Virtue, band member and keyboard player with UB40, has announced today that he is resigning from the band.

I can no longer work with the management team and I am joining Ali Campbell in his investigation into the handling of the bands business affairs. I am very upset to be leaving the band who have been like family for the last 30 years, but feel under the circumstances that this was the only option left open to me.

I have been unhappy with the way things have been run for many years and wanted to get to the bottom of the bands business affairs, which I have been unable to do. Ali has not had contact with the band since the last UB40 concert in Uganda so I called him last week and asked to speak with him.

I have now had a meeting with the same legal team, Hextalls LLP, who are representing Ali and are now also representing me.

It certainly can not be said that I am leaving to pursue a solo career and neither did Ali.

Suffice to say, I am extremely disappointed

Ali Campbell left UB40 in January 2008 citing intolerable management difficulties.

so whos gonna take over...?

Reggae star Maxi Priest is set to become UB40's new front man after the band parted compay with lead singer Ali Campbell. After the acrimonious departure of Campbell, which he claimed was over a disagreement with the band's managemet, the band have decided to carry on with other singers. The collaboration with Maxi Priest, which is expected to form a more permanent alliance, has already yielded a recording of Bob Marley's I Shot The Sheriff and is expected to form half of a double a-side single soon.

UB40 nah beg no friend the show must go on